Opera terminology OPERA TERMINOLOGY A capella. [ah kah-peh-lah] (Italian) Literally, "in the chapel." Choral music sung without instrumental accompaniment. Act. One of the main divisions of a drama, opera or ballet, usually completing a part of the action and often having a climax of its own. Adagio/Adagietto. [ah-dah-jee-oh; ah dah-jee-eh-toh] (Italian) "Slowly." Indicates a slow tempo. Adagietto is also a slow tempo, but not as slow as adagio. Allegro/Allegretto. [ah-lay-groh; ah-lay-greh-toh] (Italian) "Merry," "cheerful." Indicates a fast tempo. Allegretto is slightly slower than allegro and implies a lighter style. Andante/Andantino. [ahn-dahn-tay; ahn-dahn-tee-noh] (Italian) From the verb andare, "to walk." Implies a moderate, "walking" tempo.

Similarly, andantino (the diminutive of andante) could imply a tempo either faster or slower than andante. Aria. [ah-ree-ah] A song sung by one person. In Italian, aria means "air," "style," "manner." The aria had a central place in early opera and throughout operatic history, arias have been used to highlight an emotional state of mind and accentuate the main characters. Baritone. The most common category of the male voice; lower than a tenor, but higher than a bass. Baritones were more commonly used in during the Romantic opera era. Bass. The lowest male voice. Many bass roles are associated with characters of authority or comedy. Brava. "Well done" in Italian. Audiences say this to a female artist to express their appreciation. Bravo. "Well done" in Italian. Audiences say this to a male artist to express their appreciation. Bravi. "Well done" in Italian. Audiences say this a group of performers to express their appreciation. Buffa. Exaggerated comedic opera. From the Latin bufo meaning toad and from the Italian Buffone, which were inflated gloves that actors used to exchange comic blows on the stage. Chorus.

A group of singers usually divided into sections based on vocal range. The chorus was originally an ancient Greek practice of underscoring portions of the drama through music. The chorus is often used for crowd scenes and to play minor characters. Composer. The person who writes the vocal and/or orchestral music (score). Conductor. The person in charge of all the musical aspects of an opera; both orchestrally and vocally. Costumes. The clothing worn on stage by the performers. Costumes can be used to reflect the personality of a character, the historical time period, country of origin or social ranking. Designers. The people who create the sets, costumes, make-up, wigs and lighting for the opera performance. Dynamics. The degrees of volume (loudness and softness) in music. Also the words, abbreviations, and symbols used to indicate degrees of volume. Piano (soft) and forte (loud) are most common. Duet. Two people singing together. Finale. The ending segment of an act or scene. Harmony. Harmony is the chordal or vertical structure of a piece of music, as opposed to melody (and polyphony, or multiple melodies) which represents the horizontal structure.

The succession of chords in a given piece is referred to as a chord progression. Leitmotif. A theme or other musical idea the represents or symbolizes a person, object, place, idea, state of mind, supernatural force or some other ingredient in a dramatic work. An idea used widely throughout German opera, though associated with Richard Wagner in most of his operas. Librettist. The person who writes the text (words) of the opera. Libretto. [lih-breh-toh] The text of the opera. In Italian, it means "little book." Lyrics. Words of an opera or of a song. Musical. A staged story similar to opera, though most of the dialogue is spoken. Opera. A staged musical work in which some or all of the parts are sung. In Italian, the word "opera" means a work which is derived as the plural of the Latin opus. Opera is a union of music, drama and spectacle. Orchestra. A group of musicians led by the conductor who accompany the singers. Orchestra Pit. A sunken area in front of the stage where the orchestra sits. Overture. An orchestral introduction played before the action begins.

The overture is often used to set the mood of the opera. Many composers used the overture to introduce themes or arias within the opera and sometimes the overture became more well known than the opera itself. Pants Role. A young male character who is sung by a woman, usually a mezzo-soprano, meant to imitate the sound of a boy whose voice has not yet changed. Props. The visual elements of a scene other than the set. Furniture is called "set props" and smaller items (anything held by the performer) are called "hand props." Quartet. Four people singing together. Recitative. Dialogue which is "sing-speak." The recitative helps get through a lot of text quickly and moves the action along. Often precedes an aria or ensemble. Set. The visual background on stage. The set shows the location of the action. Soprano. The highest female voice. The soprano is commonly the lead female character. Tempo. The speed of the music. Tenor. The highest natural male voice. Often the lead male character within the opera. AZOpera Terms What we would like students to learn: To introduce students to the fundamentals of Opera and Opera Production.

Opera is a play that is sung rather than spoken. An opera can have spoken dialogue in it but it is ultimately a musical form. To give students a brief introduction to the structure of opera. What is Opera? An opera is a musical drama or comedy where the actors sing rather then speak their lines. Today they are often referred to as "singing actors." "Opera" is derived from the Italian word opus, which means work of art. An opera tells a story. It can come from many sources, including history, current events, magical, Bible, and fairy tales, legends, literature, poetry, and mythology. Opera can be funny, sad, scary, dramatic, mysterious, imaginary, or a combination of the above. Opera is a combination of many art forms: singing, orchestral music, acting, dancing, mime, costumes, scenic design and painting, lighting, and makeup design. The Libretto contains all of the words of an opera. The Librettist is the person who writes the words for the opera. Characters are the people in the story. Singers perform the parts of the characters. These parts are also called Roles. A Synopsis is a short summary of what takes place in the story.

The Composer writes the music for the opera. All of the music, both vocal (for singers) and orchestral (for instrumentalists) is written in the Score. The score should reflect the mood, events, and emotions of the characters in the story. An Opera is structured like a play, with acts, scenes, and a variety of vocal forms including Arias (solos), Ensembles (for 2 or more singers), and Chorus (for a large group of singers). The Performers The Music Director is responsible for the interpretation of the score. The Music Director is also usually the Conductor, who is responsible for the musical interpretation and coordination of the performance. This is the person you see standing in the orchestra pit waving their arms at the singers and musicians. The Soprano is the highest female voice. This is usually the heroine of the opera and most of the time she is in love with the tenor. A star soprano is often referred to as the "Prima Donna." A Mezzo-Soprano is the second highest, or middle, female voice. The mezzo voice typically has a darker, warmer voice than the soprano. The mezzo is usually either a bad guy (like a witch) or a boy.

When the mezzo plays a boy, she will be dressed in men's clothes. This is called a "Pants Role." Alto - also called Contralto, this is the lowest female voice. The alto often portrays an old woman, who can either be wise and good or an old witch. Tenor - this is the highest male voice. The tenor is usually the hero of the opera and is generally in love with the soprano. Baritone - this is the next lowest, or middle, male voice. The baritone is often a villain but can sometimes be a hero who sacrifices himself for the tenor and/or soprano. In a comedy, the Baritone is usually the one pulling all kinds of pranks. The Baritone is often in love with the soprano but usually loses her to the tenor. Bass is the lowest of the male voices. He very often plays a wise old man or a comic character. Supernumeraries (or "Supers") appear on stage in costume in non-singing and non-speaking roles. The Orchestra is the group of instrumentalists who accompany the singers.

They play under the stage, in the orchestra pit, where they will be less likely to cover the singers and detract attention from the performers on stage. The Chorus is a groups of singers who function as a unit on stage. Choruses can be for mixed voices, men only, women only, or children. They are usually featured in crowd scenes where they can represent townspeople, soldiers, pilgrims, etc. Dancers are often included in an opera. They are usually part of large crowd scenes but can be featured in solo roles as well. Many operas include a ballet. The folks behind the scenes - opera production Where do you start if you want to put on a production of an opera? Usually the General Director, Artistic Director or Music Director will pick the repertoire. The performance is conceived by the Production Team, which consists of the Music Director/Conductor, Stage Director, Choreographer, Scene Designer, Costume Designer, Lighting Designer, and Technical Director. These people meet frequently to trade ideas and work together to ensure a cohesive interpretation of the piece, from a visual, dramatic, and musical standpoint. The Stage Director (sometimes simply called Director) is responsible for the overall look of the production.

He tells everyone on stage how, when, and where to move, creating "stage pictures" that enhance the story. The Choreographer designs the steps for the dancers. The Costume Designer designs and creates the clothes that the character wear. They try to pick designs that reflect the characters and their significance in the story. The Scenic Designer creates the ideas for the visual background of the production. He or she must create detailed blue-prints and models of the sets and be sure that the scenery fits in the stage area. The Lighting Designer creates a lighting plan that emphasizes the drama of the moment. Lighting design is an important visual element that contributes to the ambiance of the stage setting and affects the appearance of people, costumes and props on stage. The Technical Director supervises everyone who is implementing the concepts of the designers. He or she works with carpenters, painters, electricians, sound designers, and stagehands and oversee the building of sets and props, and hanging of lights. The Stage Manager runs the visual elements of a show during the performance. They are is responsible for calling all of the cues for the performance to the crew.

This means that they must follow hundreds of detailed notes in the score and tell the crew when to change lighting, scenery, sound effects, and raise or lower the curtain. The Stage Manager is the one who tells the Conductor when it is time to start the performance, and lets all participants know when intermissions begin and end. The Crew works behind the scenes and is responsible for setting up and running all of the equipment for a performance, including changing sets, props, running the lights, curtains, trap doors, sound effects, and assisting performers with costumes and makeup. What makes an opera? Opera is a musical form. The orchestra provides the overriding musical texture, while the singers are featured as soloists. Overture is a piece of music played by the orchestra to begin the opera. Recitative is the sung narrative which propels the action of the story. Aria is a solo number for a singer. This come from the Italian word meaning tune or song. This is usually where the character expresses their feelings about a situation. An Ensemble is sung by 2 or more people. Two people singing is called a duet; Three people singing is called a trio, 4 people are a quartet, and so on.

Choral scenes usually feature the principal and secondary cast members and the chorus. The sheer number of voices on stage is usually reserved for moments of high drama and spectacle. Dancers might also be featured in a big choral scene. Operas are often performed in a Foreign Language (usually the language for which they were originally written). Even if you cannot understand the language, you can usually get a good idea of what is happening from the music and the actions of the characters. Surtitles are translations of the foreign words that are projected above the stage during a performance to help the audience follow the story. Props, or "Stage Properties," are visual elements of the scene rather than actually being part of the set. Small props that are picked up and carried by performers are called "hand props." These can include fans, knives, candlesticks, books, magic lanterns, etc. Larger items, such as pieces of furniture or paintings, are called "set props." Scenery or Sets provide the visual background for the story. Sets can reflect the locale, historical circumstances of the plot, and reflect the overall interpretation and conception of the opera as determined by the production team.

They are conceived by the Scene Designer and executed, or built, by the Technical Crew under the guidance of the Technical Director. Other opera terms "Pants Role," also known as a "Trouser Role," is when a female plays the part of a boy whose voice has not yet changed. This convention became very popular in the 17th Century. Women's voices are stronger than those of young boys and it was easier to hear them through the orchestra. Cadenza is a section of an aria where the singer may improvise, usually in such a way as to best display their vocal talents. Cadenzas are virtuosic and rhythmically free. Falsetto is when a man sings in a very high voice. This is often done for comic effect. Voice Range is how high or how low a particular VOICE TYPE can sing. The coloratura soprano has the highest voice range, while the bass has the lowest. Accompanist is someone who plays the piano while a vocalist is singing. Encore is a piece that is performed after the last scheduled piece of a concert. An encore is usually performed because the audience wants to hear more music even though the concert is over.

Bravo is the Italian word for expressing appreciation to a male performer. Brava is the Italian word for expressing appreciation to a female performer. Bravi is the Italian word for expressing appreciation to two or more performers. What is The Opera? What is The Opera? Opera Characteristics. What is The Opera? What is the opera? What is an opera definition ? Opera chick, opera season, opera holidays, la opera, opera singer, opera shows, opera songs, opera auditions, opera live, opera hotel and so on, and so on…. Since the rise in popularity of The Phantom of the Opera and Phantom of the Opera songs, many theatre goers would like to discover: what is opera? Numerous cities around the world have a grand opera house, the venue where opera performances take place: Opera UK which includes the Scottish opera and Opera London; European opera which includes the Riga opera in Latvia, the Copenhagen opera in Denmark, the opera in Paris France, the Rome opera in Italy, the Budapest opera house in Hungary; the Canadian opera which includes Vancouver opera in British Columbia, the opera Montreal in Quebec, the Toronto opera in Ontario. Read to Discover: What is The Opera?

Characteristics of the Opera An Opera Conductor is Responsible During an Opera Performance What is The Role of Music in An Opera? An opera is a drama or dramatic piece of work performed entirely to music. Music is central in classical opera. Music is a natural medium for expressing emotions, moods and feelings. As a result, classical operas tend to be very dramatic. Traditionally, music was the most important element of opera. In contemporary opera productions, other features have also become important, such as: acting, staging and costumes. The audio clip above is the finale of Act 1, from the opera Nabucco by G.Verdi, interpreted by opera conductor Myron Yusypovych . How is Drama Portrayed in An Opera? Dramatic Finale in Cavalleria Rusticana An opera is a dramatic work. Joseph Kerman in his book Opera as Drama (2005) writes: “… opera is properly a musical form of drama, with its own individual dignity and force.” This statement is a paraphrase of the ideas that were originally presented by Richard Wagner in his literary work Opera and Drama (published in German in 1852 as Oper und Drama).

The dramatic feelings and emotions that are experienced when audiences participate in an opera production are mostly due to the music. Drama, in an opera production, comes from and through the music. To a lesser degree, drama also comes from the plot of the opera. Some opera composers have managed to write many operas. Giuseppe Verdi composed 28 operas. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed 22 operas. Some opera composers are well known because of one particular opera. This, even though they actually composed many operas. Ruggero Leoncavallo wrote 11 operas, but the only one most audiences know is the opera Pagliacci. Georges Bizet wrote 14 operas, but Carmen, is the opera most people know and love. What is The Opera Score? Composer Score for Opera An opera has a musical score, sometimes referred to as an opera music score or a conductor score. Every note that the musicians play on their instruments and the soloists and choir sing, is written on separate staves on a large piece of paper. The opera conductor uses an opera music score: to prepare for an opera production to rehearse with the orchestra to conduct the opera performance before an audience.

Music conductors frequently make markings and reminder notes in their personal composer score. What is The Script Called in An Opera? Opera Libreto for Manan Lescaut by Puccini An opera has a libretto. The word “libretto” comes from Italian and means “a booklet” or “a little book”. Although the correct plural form is libretti, many people prefer to use the term opera librettos. An opera libretto is the script that is sung by the soloists and choir. A libretto also includes stage directions and instructions, which are usually written by the librettist, for the singers and dancers. A librettist is the person, who writes the libretto. Sometimes, the composer and the librettist are one and the same person. The most famous composer-and-librettist-in-one is Richard Wagner. However, it is more common that two people have collaborated on the writing of an opera: a librettist and a composer. Some operas are created where the composer takes a piece of dramatic work and writes music. Sometimes the composer and the librettist collaborate very closely during the creation of an opera, adjusting both as the work progresses.

And sometimes, the music is written first and then the librettist has to fit the words to the music. What Members of the Orchestra Perform During an Opera? Classical Symphony Orchestra at the Lviv Opera House A classical opera is performed with a full orchestra composed of the various musical instrument sections: strings – violins, violas, cellos and basses woodwinds – oboes, flutes, bassoons, clarinets brass – horns, trumpets, tuba percussion – drums, metal plates, chimes, xylophone The lead musician of an orchestra is the concertmaster. The name “concertmaster” comes from the German “Konzertmeister”, which literally means “the concert chief”. The concertmaster plays the violin and sits at the front of the orchestra, near the opera conductor. In an opera house or opera theatre, musicians perform an opera either every night or every other night. Such an active schedule is acceptable for the strings and percussions. However, musicians that play woodwind and brass instruments can’t perform 5 or 6 evenings a week without experiencing burn-out or loss of quality. Therefore, many companies will rotate their woodwinds and brass or have alternate musicians.

Classical operas require large orchestras that have from 70 to 100 musicians. What are Cantate de Opera? Tenor and Soprano Soloists in Aida Soloists are singers that play a leading or secondary role in the opera plot. The leading female singing role is sometimes referred to as the prima donna. Female soloists, who have sung many leading roles are often called divas. During the 19th and 20th centuries, soloists were required to only sing. Today, however, engaged audiences demand that soloists have more. They must: look the part During an opera, soloists sing: solos –sung by one soloist duets – sung by two soloists trios – three soloists singing singing individually and together ensembles – several soloists, each singing their own part, sometimes together and sometimes with the chorus. The various types of soloist voices in opera are: soprano and mezzo-soprano for women tenor, baritone and bass for men. What is The Role of The Opera Chorus? Opera Choir in Act I of G.Verdi's Nabucco An opera has a choir.

The full choir is composed of male and female singers, who sing soprano, alto, tenor and bass. In some parts of an opera performance only a male choir might be necessary, when only men sing of stage. Other times, there are parts in operas, when only a female choir is needed. Chorus scenes sung by the full opera choir, together with the soloists are some of the most memorable scenes for an opera audience. What is the Relationship Between Opera and Ballet? Ballet and Opera in G. Verdi's Aida Opera & ballet is not what most opera lovers consider together. However, many operas have scenes, that can only be performed by classically trained ballet dancers. Operas often require ballet performers. Large ballet and opera companies draw on their ballet soloists and corps-de-ballets to provide the dance numbers, that are required in an opera production. Ballet performers “express extremes of emotions through music alone”, whereas opera singers do the same through their vocal capabilities, writes Jessica Duchen in her article “Ballet and Opera – The Odd Couple” in The Independent on November 20, 2009. The two art forms of ballet and opera together, make an incredible combination for audiences.

What are The Non-Singing Actors in an Opera Called? Supernumeraries in Pagliacci An opera has actors that don’t sing, but are present on stage during the performance. These nonsinging actors are called supernumeraries. Supernumeraries provide dramatic background for the soloists and choir. Stage directors often use supernumeraries so that the singers can concentrate more on their singing and less on theit acting. What Venues are Used for The Opera? Lviv National Opera and Ballet House There are about 400 opera theatres and houses of opera that currently stage and produce operas. The most well known of these opera houses are in Europe. About 40 are situated in Asia and over 60 in North and South America. Most people imagine opera houses to be guilded and opulent. And although this may be true of many of the great opera houses of Europe, the more recently constructed opera theatres have tended to place more emphasis on acoustics and audience comfort. What Kind of Stage do Operas Need? Opera Spectacle in Aida Operas are performed in theatres, on an open-air stages and, sometimes, even in an arena. Some opera audiences like to see an opera spectacle.

Opera companies employ stage designers to design sets, scenery and props. Costumes are an important feature of opera productions. For the soloists, chorus members and supernumeraries costumes can be quite elaborate. On the other hand, orchestra members are usually dressed in black. An important feature of contemporary operas is the lighting, which can enhance the drama of the music. Operas are theatrical productions. However, when there are limited budgets or facilities, an opera can be performed as an opera-in-concert, with no costumes, scenery or lighting. What are the Characteristics of an Opera Audience? Opera Audience in Lviv, Ukraine “A performance of opera in itself is nothing without its audience”, stated Graham Vick, artistic director of the Birmingham Opera Company, during a keynote addressed delivered at the Valencia Conference of Opera Europa on March 11 – 13, 2005. There are many types of audience. An opera audience is one that likes opera and enjoys it primarily for the music. Opera is an art form that has a potentially large world audience. Because it tends to be sung in a foreign language, most audience members have come to accept that they needn’t understand every word to appreciate and enjoy the performance.

“The audience for opera is groing faster than for any other arts medium except film” was the conclusion reached in the “Opera For Now” report in the United Kingdom. “The audience for all art forms, except opera, are aging faster than did the entire sample”, which included various age groups, is concluded by the “Age and Arts Participation” study funded by the National Endownment for the Arts in the USA. For the soloists choir, musicians, conductor interacting with your audience is not an easy matter. A laughing audience at an opera usually means that something is wrong. On the other hand, a clapping audience, particularly at the end of a difficult aria or choral ensemble, is very desirable. What are The Flashing Words Above the Stage at an Opera? Surtitles During An Opera Performance Surtitles are shown on electronic boards often placed above the stage. Today, opera productions are performed in the language written by the librettist. In many cases, the audience doesn’t understand the language. Sometimes soloists and choruses are difficult to understand, even if you know the language they are singing in. This wasn’t always so.

During the 19th century and for most of the 20th century, opera singers sang translations, so that audiences could understand. The first surtitles in operas were introduced by the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto, Canada in 1983. Today, they are a common feature of most theatres and opera houses around the world. What is the Responsibility of The Opera Conductor? Opera Conductor Myron Yusypovych A musical conductor stands in front of the orchestra and waves his baton or hands in time to the music’s beat. What a simple job! Or, is it? An opera conductor’s job description includes: researching the music and opera background before rehearsals begin developing a common vision for the opera production with all support staff planning the rehearsal schedule rehearsing the orchestra working with the soloists and choir members conducting the opera performance in such a way, as to ensure the best possible performance from each participant. Audience applause is something that some opera conductors know how to handle and others don’t. Knowing when to restart the performance, when to cut into the applause and when to let it continue will either ensure the smooth contintuation of the opera performance or cause it to limp on awkwardly.

Most opera conductors use a baton, although there are instances when, during an opera performance, a conductor will lay aside the baton and use only his hands. Some musical and opera conductors reject commercially produced batons and prefer to either have them custom made or make them themselves. Making a Musical: Key Players - The Creative Team Composer & Lyricist The composer writes the music  the lyricist writes the words. It is not unusual for one person to act as both composer and lyricist. In most cases, composers leave the dances or underscoring to the orchestrator and dance arranger. (See our section on Elements of a Musical for more on scores.) Some lyricists act as their own librettists. Only a very few people have succeeded as composer, lyricist and librettist  such as George M. Cohan, Noel Coward, Meredith Willson and Jonathan Larson. For many years, Broadway composers and lyricists made much of their income from the sale of sheet music.

With the change in musical tastes and the near-disappearance of sheet music, they get little beyond the chance to share 2% of a show's profits and (if lucky) part of the long-term rights income if the show is ever leased for international and amateur productions. The only way for theatrical composers or lyricists to "strike it rich" is to become their own producers - as Andrew Lloyd Webber did with his Really Useful Company. Librettist Also called the "book writer," the librettist creates the book  or script  of a musical. In musicals where the dialogue is almost completely replaced by music (Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables), the librettist is essentially responsible for making sure everything weaves into a coherent dramatic flow. Librettists are most often blamed when a show fails, and not without reason. A show with a strong score and a bad libretto usually fails, while a show with a so-so score and a great libretto usually succeeds.

(Note: The success of Footloose and Saturday Night Fever seems to contradict this once-solid rule.) (Our section on "Elements of a Musical" has more on musical books.) Director Up to the 1940's, writers and producer's had the concept - the director was expected to stage a show and supervise rehearsals in a way that made that concept shine through. Starting in the 1950's, directors took an increasing degree of control over the creative process. Today, few producers or writers have the clout to overrule a top director's decisions. Choreo grapher The person who stages the dances and musical scenes of a show was once called the "dance director," but the title changed when ballet choreographers like George Ballanchine and Agnes DeMille began working on musicals. Since the 1940's, many musicals have been staged by directors who also choreograph. A choreographer must give a musical a sense of movement that helps hold the show together visually. Set Designer Until the 1970's, even the most lavish Broadway productions used painted flats as sets, creating 3-D paintings that were more suggestive than realistic.

Since the 1970's, sets have become increasingly realistic, taking up more space and far more of a show's budget. Sets must move swiftly, allowing a show to flow seamlessly from one scene to the next. Scenic effects can make or break a contemporary musical, but you know a show is in trouble if audiences leave the theatre "humming the sets." Costume Designer Whatever you see a Broadway actor wearing onstage did not come off a store rack. Stage costumes have to stand up to heavy use and daily cleanings  and last for as long as possible without looking threadbare or tattered (unless they are for the beggars in Les Miz). Designers must balance sturdiness with the needs of performers to dance and sing comfortably. When the original Kiss Me Kate (1948) ran short of money, designer Lemuel Ayers used heavy-duty curtain fabric for some of the period costumes. Light ing Designer This is one of the least noticed and yet most crucial members of the creative team. Costumes, sets and actors are not worth a damn if no one can see them. With the exception of the music, nothing sets the mood for a scene as quickly or clearly as the lighting.

This is one of the least noticed and yet most crucial members of the creative team. Costumes, sets and actors are not worth a damn if no one can see them. With the exception of the music, nothing sets the mood for a scene as quickly or clearly as the lighting. Musical Director The musical director is much more than the conductor of the orchestra. He or she is in charge of everything involving the musical aspects of a show -- from song rehearsals to maintaining musical performances through a show's run. Consequently, the MD has a tremendous effect on the sound and pacing of performances. An MD must be ready to smooth over technical glitches, reassure uncertain understudies, and handle anything else that might stop the music. The MD is also in charge of hiring and managing the orchestra. In many cases, the musical director is a frequent absentee, and hires a conductor to stand in at some or all performances. Sound Designer This technically demanding position was not credited in Playbill listings until the 1980's. In the 1950's, a stage manager just turned on some foot mikes at curtain time, allowing basic amplification for the folks in the balcony.

Now everyone in a Broadway cast wears a wireless body mike to provide full amplification  a complex proposition when there are dozens on stage. Through the 1990s, many complained that theatrical amplification could be distracting, but technical improvements have led to much more naturalistic sound in recent years. Technical staff are on hand during all performances to check each piece of equipment and continually adjust every microphone's input levels  a task managed from a bank of computers, usually stationed at the rear of the orchestra section. Orch estrator The composer writes the melodies, but the orchestrator determines what those melodies will sound like when an orchestra plays them. For example - Richard Rodgers wrote the melody of "Shall We Dance," but orchestrator Robert Russell Bennett made its famous "BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!" sound a reality. The challenge for orchestrators is to make sure their arrangements do not drown out the singers  a task made much easier by electronic amplification. Most composers let orchestrators create the overture as well as the underscoring and scene change music. Dance Arranger Composers frequently allow dance arrangers to handle the time consuming task of working with a choreographer to score the dance sequences.

Shows with minimal dancing may not have a dance arranger at all, leaving that function in the hands of the orchestrator. Writer - definition of writer by The Free Dictionary Writer - definition of writer by The Free Dictionary Related to writer: Freelance writer writ·er One who writes, especially as an occupation. writer 1. (Journalism & Publishing) a person who writes books, articles, etc, esp as an occupation 2. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) the person who has written something specified 3. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a person who is able to write or write well 4. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) a scribe or clerk 5. (Music, other) a composer of music 6. (Law) Scot a legal practitioner, such as a notary or solicitor 7. (Law) Writer to the Signet (in Scotland) a member of an ancient society of solicitors, now having the exclusive privilege of preparing crown writs writ•er (ˈraɪ tər) n. 1. a person engaged in writing books, articles, stories, etc., esp. as an occupation or profession. 2.

a person who commits thoughts to writing: an expert letter writer. 3. someone who sells stock options.

[before 900] communicator - a person who communicates with others abstracter , abstractor - one who makes abstracts or summarizes information alliterator - a speaker or writer who makes use of alliteration authoress - a woman author biographer - someone who writes an account of a person's life coauthor , joint author - a writer who collaborates with others in writing something commentator , reviewer - a writer who reports and analyzes events of the day compiler - a person who compiles information (as for reference purposes) contributor - a writer whose work is published in a newspaper or magazine or as part of a book cyberpunk - a writer of science fiction set in a lawless subculture of an oppressive society dominated by computer technology drafter - a writer of a draft dramatist , playwright - someone who writes plays essayist , litterateur - a writer of literary works folk writer - a writer of folktales framer - someone who writes a new law or plan; "the framers of the Constitution" gagster , gagwriter , gagman - someone who writes comic material for public performers ghostwriter , ghost - a writer who gives the credit of authorship to someone else Gothic romancer - a writer of Gothic romances hack writer , literary hack

 , hack - a mediocre and disdained writer journalist - a writer for newspapers and magazines librettist - author of words to be set to music in an opera or operetta lyricist , lyrist - a person who writes the words for songs novelist - one who writes novels pamphleteer - a writer of pamphlets (usually taking a partisan stand on public issues) paragrapher - a writer of paragraphs (as for publication on the editorial page of a newspaper) poet - a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry) polemic , polemicist , polemist - a writer who argues in opposition to others (especially in theology) poetiser , poetizer , rhymer , rhymester , versifier - a writer who composes rhymes; a maker of poor verses (usually used as terms of contempt for minor or inferior poets) scenarist - a writer of screenplays scriptwriter - someone who writes scripts for plays or movies or broadcast dramas space writer - a writer paid by the area of the copy speechwriter - a writer who composes speeches for others to deliver tragedian - a writer (especially a playwright) who writes tragedies wordmonger - a writer who uses language carelessly or pretentiously with little

 regard for meaning word-painter - a writer of vivid or graphic descriptive power wordsmith - a fluent and prolific writer 2.

diarist , diary keeper , journalist - someone who keeps a diary or journal literate , literate person - a person who can read and write scrawler , scribbler - a writer whose handwriting is careless and hard to read good speller , poor speller , speller - someone who spells words transcriber - someone who makes a written version of spoken material transcriber - someone who rewrites in a different script writer noun author , novelist , hack , columnist , scribbler , scribe , essayist , penman , wordsmith , man of letters , penpusher , littérateur , penny-a-liner (rare) detective stories by American writers Quotations "The wise writer ... writes for the youth of his own generation, the critics of the next, and the schoolmasters of ever afterward" [F. Scott Fitzgerald Some Sort of Epic Grandeur] "Some editors are failed writers - but so are most writers" [T.S.

Eliot] "Writers, like teeth, are divided into incisors and grinders" [Walter Bagehot Estimates of some Englishmen and Scotchmen] see diarists , dramatists , novelists , poets Writers Children's writers Louisa May Alcott (U.S.), Hans Christian Andersen (Danish), Lynn Reid Banks (English), J(ames) M(atthew) Barrie (Scottish), Judy Blume (U.S.), Enid (Mary) Blyton (English), Elinor M(ary) Brent-Dyer (English), Lewis Carroll (English), Babette Cole (British), Eoin Colfer (Irish), Susan Coolidge (U.S.), Karen Cushman (U.S.), Roald Dahl (British), Anne Digby (English), Dr Seuss (U.S.), Ann Fine (English), Kenneth Grahame (Scottish), Laura Ingalls Wilder (U.S.), Mike Inkpen (English), Robin Jarvis (English), Diana Wynne Jones (Welsh), C(live) S(taples) Lewis (English), A(lan) A(lexander) Milne (English), Michael Morpurgo (English), Jill Murphy (English), E(dith) Nes

bit (English), Terry Pratchett (English), Philip Pullman (English), Chris Riddell (English), J K Rowling (British), Louis Sachar (U.S.), Dick King Smith (English), Paul Stewart (English), Noel Streatfield (English), Jacqueline Wilson (English) Short story writers Giovanni Boccaccio (Italian), Jorge Luis Borges (Argentinian), Stephen Crane (U.S), Arthur Conan Doyle (British), Joel Chandler Harris (U.S.), Nathaniel Hawthorne (U.S.), Washington Irving (U.S.), Carson McCullers (U.S.), Katherine Mansfield (N.Z.-British), Herman Melville (U.S.), W(illiam) Somerset Maugham (English), (Henri René Albert) Guy de Maupassant (French), H(ector) H(ugh) Munro (Scottish), O.

Henry (U.S.), Dorothy Parker (U.S.), Edgar Allan Poe (U.S.) Non-fiction writers Joseph Addison (English), Aesop (Greek), Roger Ascham (English), James Boswell (Scottish), John Bunyan (English), Edmund Burke (British), Jane Welsh Carlyle (Scottish), Thomas Carlyle (Scottish), William Godwin (English), Marcus Tullius Cicero (Roman), William Cobbett (English), Desiderius Erasmus (Dutch), Edward Gibbon (English), William Hazlitt (English), R.H.

Hutton (English), Thomas Jefferson (U.S.), Jerome K(lapka) Jerome (English), Samuel Johnson (English), Margery Kempe (English), Lord Chesterfield (English), John Lyly (English), Thomas Malory (English), Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (French), Tom Paine (English-U.S.), Samuel Pepys (English), François Rabelais (French), John Ruskin (English), Richard Steele (English), Leslie Stephen (English), Thomas Traherne (English), Izaac Walton (English), Mary Wollstonecraft (English) Translations She's a writer → Elle est écrivain .write-up [ˈraɪtʌp] n (= review) → critique f writer n → Schreiber (in) m(f); (of scenario, report etc also) → Autor (in) m(f); (of TV commercials, subtitles) → Texter (in) m(f); (of music) → Komponist (in) m(f); (as profession) → Schriftsteller (in) m(f); the (present) writer → der Schreiber (dieser Zeilen/dieses Artikels etc); he’s a very poor writer → er

 schreibt sehr schlecht ; (= correspondent) → er ist kein großer Briefschreiber writer to be a good/poor writer → scrivere /non scrivere bene he's a thriller writer → è un autore di gialli he's a writer of novels → è un romanziere writer's cramp → crampo dello scrivano write (rait) – past tense wrote (rout) : past participle written (ˈritn) – verb 1.

to draw (letters or other forms of script) on a surface, especially with a pen or pencil on paper. They wrote their names on a sheet of paper; The child has learned to read and write; Please write in ink. skryf يَكْتُب пиша escrever psát schreiben skrive γράφω escribir kirjutama نوشتن kirjoittaa écrire לִכתוֹב लिखना pisati (le)ír menulis skrifa scrivere 書く (글자, 단어 등을) 쓰다 rašyti rakstīt menulis schrijven skrive pisać ليكل، انشاء كول، تاليف كول escrever a scrie писать písať (na)pisati pisati skriva เขียน yazı yazmak 寫 писати لکھنا viết 写 2. to compose the text of (a book, poem etc). She wrote a book on prehistoric monsters.

skryf يُؤَلِّف، يَكْتُبُ كِتاباً أو قَصيدَةً съчинявам escrever psát schreiben skrive γράφω , συνθέτω escribir kirjutama نگاشتن kirjoittaa écrire לִכתוֹב, לְחַבֵּר मजमून लिखना pisati megír menulis skrifa scrivere 著作する (책, 시 등을) 쓰다 rašyti sacerēt; sarakstīt mengarang; menggubah schrijven skrive pisać تاليف كول escrever a scrie писать písať napisati pisati skriva แต่ง (หนังสือ, โคลง ฯลฯ) yazmak 編寫 писати, складати تصنیف کرنا viết sách 编写 3. to compose a letter (and send it).

He has written a letter to me about this matter; I'll write you a long letter about my holiday; I wrote to you last week. skryf يَكْتُبُ رِسالَةً пиша escrever napsat schreiben skrive γράφω escribir (kirja) kirjutama نوشتن؛ تحریر کردن kirjoittaa écrire לִכתוֹב पत्र लिखना और भेजना pisati, sastaviti (meg)ír menulis skrifa scrivere 手紙を書く (편지 등을) 쓰다 parašyti uzrakstīt; aizrakstīt menulis surat schrijven skrive napisać ليكل escrever a scrie, a compune написать napísať (na)pisati pisati skriva เขียนจดหมาย yazmak 寫信 написати خط لکھ کر بھیجنا viết thư 写信 ˈwriter noun a person who writes, especially for a living.

Dickens was a famous English writer; the writer of this letter.

skrywer, outeur كاتِب писател escritor spisovatel, -ka; pisatel, -ka der/die Schriftsteller(in), der/die Schreiber(in) forfatter συγγραφέας , συντάκτης escritor kirjanik, kirjutaja نویسنده؛ مولف kirjailija écrivain/-aine סופר , כותב लेखक pisac író penulis rithöfundur scrittore , scrittrice 作家 작가 rašytojas rakstnieks; autors penulis; pengarang schrijver forfatter , skribent pisarz ليكوال، موْ لف: ليكونكى escritor scriitor писатель ; автор spisovateľ, -ka; pisateľ, -ka pisec književnik författare, skribent ผู้เขียน yazar 作家 письменник; автор لکھنے والا tác giả 作家 ˈwriting noun letters or other forms of script giving the written form of

 (a) language.

the Chinese form of writing; I can't read your writing. skryfvorm, skrif كِتابَه писане manuscrito / obra písmo die Schrift skrift; håndskrift γραφή , γράψιμο escritura (käe)kiri دستخط kirjoitus écriture כתיבה लेखन pisanje írás tulisan skrift scrittura 書体 쓰기, 저술 rašymas, raštas raksts; rakstība tulisan schrift skrift pismo ليكنه، ليك، دلاس ليك، مشق: ليكوالي، تاليف، ليكلى سند escrita scris; scriere письменность; почерк písmo pisava rukopis skrift, handstil การเขียน yazı 書寫，筆跡 писемність; письмо تحریر chữ viết 书写，笔体 ˈwritings noun plural the collected books, poems, correspondence etc of a particular (usually famous) person. the writings of Plato.

geskrifte كِتابات، مُؤَلَّفات трудове manuscritos / obras spisy die Schriften (pl.) værker; skrifter γραπτά , έργα escrito , obra escrita teosed آثار kirjoitukset écrits כְּתָבִים लेखन spisi, pismena vki művei tulisan skrif, (öll) ritverk scritti , opere 著作集 문학 작품, 저서 raštai, kūriniai sacerējumi; darbi geschriften skrifter , tekster , verk pisma, dzieła ليكنه escritos scrieri сочинения spisy dela dela skrifter, verk งานเขียน yazılı yapıtlar/eserler 著作 твори تصانیف tác phẩm 著作 written (ˈritn) adjective in writing. a written message.

geskrewe مَكْتوب писмен escrita písemný, psaný schriftlich skreven γραπτός escrito kirjalik مکتوب؛ کتبی kirjallinen écrit כתוב लिखित napisan írott; írva tertulis skrifaður, skriflegur scritto 書かれた 씌어진 parašytas rakstisks; rakstveida- geschreven skriftlig , skrift- pisemny د write ماضي او دريم حالت escrito scris письменный písomný napisan pisan skriven, skriftlig เขียน yazılı 書面的 написаний لکھا ہوا được viết 书面的 ˈwriting-paper noun paper for writing letters etc on. writing-paper and envelopes.

skryfpapier وَرَق لِكِتابَة الرَّسائِل хартия за писма papel de carta dopisní papír das Briefpapier skrivepapir χαρτί αλληλογραφίας papel de escribir, papel de carta kirjapaber کاغذ نوشتن kirjepaperi papier à lettres נְייָר כְּתִיבָה लिखने का कागज papir za pisanje levélpapír kertas tulis bréfsefni carta da lettere 便せん 필기 용지 rašomasis/laiškinis popierius rakstāmpapīrs; vēstuļu papīrs kertas tulis schrijfpapier brevpapir papeteria , papier do pisania کاغذ papel de carta hârtie de scris писчая, почтовая бумага listový papier pisemski papir papir za pisanje pisama skriv

papper กระดาษสำหรับเขียนจดหมาย mektup/yazı kâğıdı 信紙 письмовий папір لکھنے کا کاغذ giấy viết thư 信纸 write down to record in writing.

She wrote down every word he said.

neerskryf يُدَوِّن، يُسَجِّل записвам anotar / tomar nota zapsat aufschreiben skrive ned γράφω , σημειώνω anotar , apuntar üles kirjutama نوشتن؛ یادداشت کردن kirjata ylös mettre par écrit לִכתוֹב, לִרשוֹם लिखना zapisati leír mencatat skrá, skrifa niður annotare 書き留める 기록하다, 적다 užrašyti pierakstīt menyalin; mencatat opschrijven skrive opp/ned zapisać یاد داشت کول assentar a scrie/a nota pe hârtie записывать zapísať zapisati zabeležiti skriva ner จด; บันทึก kaydetmek , yazmak 記下 записувати لکھنا ghi chép 记下 write out to copy or record in writing.

Write this exercise out in your neatest handwriting.

uitskryf يَكْتُب، يُدَوِّن написвам copiar / escrever por extenso přepsat abschreiben skrive af; renskrive αντιγράφω , καθαρογράφω transcribir ümber kirjutama جزئیات را نوشتن؛ تحریر کردن kirjoittaa transcrire לְהַעֲתִיק, לְשַכתֵב लिखित में दर्ज करना prepisati lemásol, leír menyalin afrita, skrifa upp trascrivere 清書する 작성하다 perrašyti norakstīt; pārrakstīt menulis overschrijven skrive av ; renskrive; skrive ut przepisać , zapisać تحریر کول copiar a copia переписывать predpísať prepisati prepisati skriva ut (rent) คัดลอก kopya

 etmek 抄寫或書寫記錄 виписувати; переписувати سب کچھ لکھ لینا chép toàn bộ 写出，抄写或书写 writer

Question: A person who writes the music for an opera is called a composer. What name is given to the person who writes the words?
Answer: A LIBRETTIST